Having A Kind Of Godliness

 

In the woird we lvie in tehre are tihngs thai smoetiems jsut dno’t seem rihgt. Tehre are otehr teems when things are blatantly wrnog, and stcik out lkie a sroe thmub. Hvae you eevre ntoiecd that wehn you are porof redaing soemthnig taht you hvae written, taht yuor eye deos not cacth an erorr? Geiv it 10 somoene else to raed and tehy sopt it rihgt aawy. Why is tihs? Colud it be taht we are too colse to the sitaution?

Okay, enough with the fun. However, I hope you do see what I’m trying to convey with the overemphasizing of the misspellings.

It’s widespread practice for most states to issue examines to high school students who are nearing graduation. These pupils are given more than one chance to pass this test before they can participate in a graduation ceremony. Are some students passing along just because administrators do not know what else to do with them? Perhaps some children don’t understand what it means to have structure, yet they expect to perform miracles at the eleventh hour, so to speak. A test of a child’s knowledge is based on how much they have learned and how well they retain the information fed to them by teachers and textbook data. Their future hinges upon whether or not they go to college based on their test results.

Likewise, teachers are given competency tests and are given more than one chance to pass, and with an overall passing score they may become certified to teach. Prospective teachers are evaluated for their knowledge, which is based on how much they remember and how well prepared they are to instruct our children. Teachers must pass the tests because their future depends upon their dream job. Some students cannot pass the exams and ironically some teachers cannot pass their exams – this is an enigmatic problem.

[Acts 17:22-23] … “Men of Athens, I perceive that in all things you are very religious; for as I was passing through and considering the objects of your worship, I even found an alter with this inscription: TO THE UNKNOWN GOD…”

In any sizeable community one will find the building of various denominational groups. Nearly all professing a different doctrine from the other. The apostle Paul noticed something similar in Athens. Now, if I’m looking at this in a logical way, I would say that not all the denominations can be right in their doctrine. Something is wrong somewhere. Most of them, I will admit, have a form of Godliness, just like the misspellings above. There is enough of the words spelled correctly (their teaching) that one can make it out, yet they are not totally truthful and correct. In John 4:23-24, Jesus reminds us that God is Spirit and said that true worshippers must worship Him in spirit and in truth. This is a command to the believer. How do we know if we are true worshippers – the kind that God wants? The answer is really simple – by studying. God wants His people to know the Scriptures. 2 Timothy 2:15, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

“When We All Get To Heaven” makes me think of death as a graduation ceremony. Like a classroom, we already know that we will have an exit exam. John 12:44-50 plainly states that God will examine us in the end by His every word and our belief in Him.

Did I do my part to help others? Was I courteous even when I wasn’t in the mood? Did I honor my responsibility to the church? Did I respect the rights of others? Did I make righteous choices? This is one exam that we don’t get to retake until we receive a passing grade. Are you sure you’ve been taught the truth? Can you say unequivocally you are worshipping God the way He wants to be worshipped? 1 John 5:13 – Eternal life awaits.

Independence Is Dependent

 

One cold, rainy night, in a small mid-western town, the telephone rang in the house of a doctor. The caller identified himself and said his wife needed urgent medical attention. The doctor was understanding and said he was willing to come and attend to her needs but explained that his car was being repaired and asked that the man come and pick him up. The man angrily responded, “What! In this weather?” Oh, aren’t we selfish silly people?

“And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”

This is the last line of the Declaration of Independence, and it shows us two things in particular about the patriots who signed it: They depended on God and they depended on each other. That last bit sounds like a contradiction, doesn’t it - how they depended on God and each other? How is that independence? How can you depend on someone or something, and at the same time declare your independence? We like to think that Independence Day - that grand 250^th anniversary just celebrated - is all about allowing every American to stand alone, as a rugged individual - forgetting that Independence Day is about the independence of a nation, not of a bunch of people looking after their own interests. It’s terribly easy, in our contemporary culture, to forget that hard-earned lesson: that we are inevitably dependent. The pioneers on the frontier knew: • how, if you had to raise a barn, you couldn’t do it without your neighbors; • how, if you fell sick, you could depend on the people in the next cabin to fetch the doctor; • how you could look across the valley through a snowstorm and see from the lantern in the window that you were not alone. The founders of our country knew you couldn’t have a declaration of independence without a corresponding declaration of dependence - that we are dependent on God, and we depend on our neighbors to help us. Let us give thanks today for our nation’s independence. But let us also give thanks that we are blessed with so many people who help us. They help us with visits, with health care, with our daily meals and so much more. We are blessed in so many ways! (Carlos Wilton and Timothy Merrill)

[Psalm 131] “Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely, I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, (O America) hope in the Lord; From this time forth and forever.”

In my mind, one of the things that proves to me the Bible is the Word of God, is it’s view of life and death. It gives an honest approach to living. There are no myths, no fairy tales, and in many cases no happy endings. God’s Word deals with the greatness and the failures of the lives of God’s people. The Bible shows us how to live and the results of not living that way. It speaks of salvation and condemnation; it presents joy and great sorrow. It deals with real life in a brief statement of fact and then goes on with the story. Think how our news media would deal with some story in the Bible like Adam and Eve being forced out of the garden. It would be on the five o’clock news, the ten o’clock news, and the story would for at least or more about how harshly they had been treated. But in God’s Holy Word its briefness is a sign of its divine nature.

The Bible remains a number one best seller and the least read book in the world. If every household in America, and the world, would dare to read God’s Word and follow its precepts there would be peace and wisdom in every land. That would be so pleasing to God.

Commitment

 

John Claypool shares this story in “Leadership” Vol. 12, No.1 – “Winston Churchill had planned his funeral, which took place in St. Paul’s Cathedral. He included many of the great hymns of the Catholic church and used the eloquent Anglican liturgy. At his direction, a bugler, positioned high in the dome of St, Paul’s, intoned, after the benediction, the sound of ‘Taps’ – the universal signal that says the day is over. But then came the most dramatic turn. As Churchill instructed, as soon as ‘Taps’ was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of ‘Reveille.’ ‘It’s time to get up; It’s time to get up; It’s time to get up in the morning.’ That was Churchill’s testimony that at the end of history, the last note will not be ‘Taps,’ it will be ‘Reveille’.”

Death surrounds us, we cannot escape it and we can’t escape constantly hearing about it. Turn on any TV news program and the lead story will almost always be about some violent death. Pick up any newspaper and usually somewhere on the front page will be a story that deals with someone’s death. Some are uncomfortable with this constant reminder of our mortality. Death is something we will all face someday. No matter how religious one is; no matter how good one is; someday all will face death and face the maker of all things. How do you view death? How have you prepared for this eventuality? Do you face our mortality with confidence or fear?

[1 Thessalonians 4:13-18] Churchill’s understanding is straight from the scriptures. Paul’s writing is encouraging concerning death. The key to these verses is found in the first verse, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.” The word ‘brethren’ directs Paul’s address to ‘Christians” in Thessalonica. “Christian” is a descriptive word that is given to those who are obedient disciples of Jesus Christ. For those who serve God it is not a matter of life or death, it’s a matter of life and continuing life in a new location. Maybe it’s time to consider if you are ready for that day. Eternal life with God or eternal suffering in hell.

Commitment is the act of committing, pledging, or engaging oneself. It is regarded as a pledge or a promise. When we became Christians, we committed ourselves to take up our cross and follow Christ daily. This commitment is for a lifetime. In Christianity there is no such thing as a temporary commitment or a partial commitment.

When the pilot of a giant airliner is speeding down the runway, there is a certain point where he cannot decide to remain on the ground. When he crosses that line, he has to commit to the air. If he doesn’t, the plane will run out of runway and crash disastrously. That pilot cannot change his mind when the plane is two-thirds of the way down the runway. He must make his decision from the beginning and stay with it to become airborne.

Many members of the church have obeyed the gospel, leaving the old man of sin; but they seem to sit at the beginning of the runway revving their engines – but never moving. They have been saved but have never gotten engaged in their faith. Christianity is not a spectator sport Everyone must compete against an enemy who is out to get their soul (Ephesians 6:10-13; 1 Peter 5:8). This is not a competition where winning or losing does not matter. It is a competition with eternal consequences. “Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Our faith in Christ is a commitment with no end. Let’s not spend our time gunning our engines on the runway. Let’s take off!

Fathers Day

 

·         My dad used to carry around a frayed knot in his pocket just an old tied up piece of rope. Then any time someone asked him something and the answer was, “no", he would just pull out the frayed knot and say, “fraid not!” and he would burst out laughing. Nobody else thought it was funny.

·         Being a great father is like shaving. No matter how good you shaved today, you have to do it again tomorrow.

·         Dear Dad, $chool i$ really great. I am making lot$ of friend$ and $tudying very hard. With all my $tuff, I $imply can’t think of anything I need, $o if you would like, you can ju$t $end me a card, a$ I would love to hear from you. Love, Your $on

Dear Son, I kNOw that astroNOmy, ecoNOmics, and oceaNOgraphy are eNOugh to keep even an hoNOr student busy. Do NOt forget that the pursuit of kNOwledge is a NOble task, and you can never study eNOugh. Love, Dad

When Peter was 16, he finally got his driver's license. To celebrate the special day, the whole family went out to the driveway and climbed into the car to enjoy his first official drive. However, dad went to the back seat, where he sat right behind his boy. When Peter saw his dad he said, "Dad, you must be fed up with the front seat after teaching me how to drive all these days, right?” "Nope!", came the quick reply from the dad. "I'm going to sit back here and kick the back of your seat while you drive, just like you've been doing to me for the last sixteen years!"

Father’s Day Perspective by Brandon Britton

Father's Day - what does it mean to you? Its meaning has changed for me over the years. When I was young it was a day to wear a red rose to church. It was a day to say, "Thanks Dad for all the things you do." Later, when I became a dad, it took on a deeper meaning as I began to realize all the responsibilities that go with the title. Now, being a father and a grandfather, it takes on a special meaning. I look back at the memory of my own father with warm thoughts and understand him better.

I look to the future by looking in the eyes of my son. I see the strength of young manhood and hope and pray that I have been, and am being, the kind of example he needs to see and know what being a Christian father is all about. I look into the eyes of my grandson and see the wonder of new things as he learns to explore his world in which there are new discoveries every day. Again, I hope and pray that I am being the example that he needs to see and to know what being a Christian grandfather is all about.

Father's Day is a wonderful day to stop and reflect on being a father. It is a time to think of the great privilege that God has granted men to become fathers, and to help shape and mold a young mind and soul. It is a time to think that with this privilege comes great responsibilities, as the apostle Paul wrote in Ephesians 6:4, "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition the Lord.”

Fathers, notice there are two parts to this verse. One is a negative, "do not provoke.” This provoking is done by making too many demands, undue severity when disciplining our children. The other part is a positive, "bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." This requires instruction, spiritual and moral nurture as well as physical (Matthew 4:4). As the children grow older, then we need to give them admonition, that reasoning for which they should or should not do certain things (Deuteronomy 6:6-9). Fathers, there will be no greater reward than getting to heaven and being surrounded by our families!

Flag Day

 

In May of every year, Australians submit themselves to a national experience of repentance. Sounds unusual, but it’s true. First, there’s National Sorry Day (this year it’s May 26), which is followed by National Reconciliation Week, which this year is May 27-June 3. According to one source, National Sorry Day, also known as National Day of Healing, is “an annual event that has been held in Australia on May 26 since 1998, to remember and commemorate the mistreatment of the country’s indigenous peoples, as part of an ongoing process of reconciliation between the indigenous peoples and the settler population.” The week of reconciliation which follows is intended “to celebrate the history and culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia, and foster reconciliation, discussion and activities.” This is a great idea, and I wish the United States had such a week-long period of national repentance. We have so much of which to repent; slavery, the treatment of Native Americans and ongoing racism for starters. I know there are some who may disagree about the need to do this at a national level, but I believe it would be a good thing. But, having a pastoral heart as I do, I also think it would be good for every church in America to have a Sorry Sunday, and a Week of Reconciliation. Sorry Sunday would be a day in which we fervently repent for our sins on a personal level. We draw up plans to make amends. We approach those whom we have wronged. We make right the wrongs we have committed. Perhaps Lent would be a good time to designate one Sunday as Sorry Sunday. This could be followed by a church-wide Week of Reconciliation. Devotional messages, reconciling activities, worship and prayer, vesper services, and more. Such a week could be a time of renewal and a refreshing of the Holy Spirit in the church. But what about us? Perhaps we should think about having a Sorry Day once a month or once a week. But only if we find it hard to say, “I’m sorry,” and offer an apology. We don’t need a special Sorry Day, do we, if we already make it a habit to correct an injustice when it is done, or to apologize when a harsh word is uttered, or to offer the hand of friendship to the friendless? Let’s not forget how to say, “I’m sorry,” and let’s not forget how to swallow our pride and make things right when things go wrong. —Timothy Merrill

[Isaiah 9:6-7] “…Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end…” The government of the United States and its Constitution were established under the ideals and morals of God’s Word. Flag Day marks the anniversary of the official adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777. Unfortunately, flags have become like magazines and web sites – everybody’s got one. The U.S. flag has been given a back seat to many of them as its history fades in ignorance along with our public Pledge of Allegiance because it contains the phrase, “…under God…” On June 14, 1954, President Dwight Eisenhower signed a bill to insert the phrase “under God” into the U.S. Pledge of Allegiance that children recited every morning in school. American’s lived by the morals of God Almighty every day.

While searching through my references I came across an Editorial in our local newspaper, the Wilson County News, of October 5, 2005. A political cartoon was exhibiting the thoughts of the time.                                                                                                                                                           

The State of Texas was “defending the Pledge as an entirely Constitutional acknowledgement of God and our heritage.” God save America. Our only hope and stay.